April 12, 2008
DECATUR, Ala. - West Florida's Emily Burge picked up her 2nd win this weekend in a one hitter shutout victory over Ouachita Baptist on Saturday afternoon, 8-0. In just five innings, the Argos shut down OBU to earn their third win of the GSC Crossover in Decatur, Alabama. Combined, the Argos had nine hits with homeruns from Emily Burge and Kristee Wheeler. Burge faced just 17 batters, striking out eight and giving up just one hit in the top of the 5th inning.
Both sides were quiet until the bottom of the 2nd inning when West Florida began with a single run. Caurie Miller led off with a walk, which brought pinch runner Franny Bell to first base. Julie Carroll advanced Bell on a sacrifice bunt, and Kristee Wheeler followed with a walk. Melissa Chastang singled to left field to load the bases for pinch hitter Taren Walton, who came through with an RBI single that scored Bell and put the Argos in the lead, 1-0.
It wasn't until the bottom of the 3rd inning that West Florida unleashed on OBU, scoring five runs off of just four hits. Nicky VanCamp walked, and was caught in a rundown between first and second in a stealing attempt. However, a throwing error allowed VanCamp to safely make it to second just in time for a two-run homerun from starting pitcher Emily Burge, her fourth of the weekend. Caurie Miller and Julie Carroll both walked and then advanced to second and third on a Wheeler line out. With two outs, the Argos continued to pound out hits with a Heather Bell single that scored Miller. Bell stole second on a Whitney Gay at bat, and both Carroll and Bell scored off a single from Gay through the left side.
West Florida clinched the victory in the bottom of the fourth inning with two more runs, allowing them to complete the game on run rule after they retired the OBU side in the top of the fifth. Both runs came from a two-run homerun from catcher Kristee Wheeler, in which Carroll was on base with a single. Melissa Chastang singled before the end of the inning but was left on base. Designated player Jillian LaFrance had a single in the shutout win to add the ninth Argonaut hit.
UWF continued play immediately following with a game against Arkansas Tech starting at 2PM. The Argonauts finish off the Crossover on Sunday morning at 10AM against Henderson State University. The Argos will return their home field on Monday afternoon against 20th ranked GSC opponent Valdosta State in a doubleheader starting at 1PM. Games on Sunday and Monday will be broadcast live through Stretch Internet.
